The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Friday, August 11, 2017

Birth Certificates, Books, Viggo and Back-of-the-Book Blurb #71

         Something incredible is going to happen on January 2, 2018. I'm going to get my birth certificate.

        Oh, I know most of you are saying, "Big deal. Doesn't Sioux already have her birth certificate?"

        Well, yes I do, but I've never gotten my original birth certificate. I've never seen it. Never got to hold it.

         But on January 2, 2018 adoptees born after 1940 in Missouri will be presented their original birth certificate. This is happening because a bill was proposed and it battled its way into becoming a law. It will have my birth mother's name on it. (I know that information.) Perhaps it will include my biological father's name. (I'm clueless when it comes to that tidbit. I'm also not too hopeful.)

         I will sooo be there, with bells on...

         On August 29 (a little closer to today than January 2) Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Kind (of) America goes on sale. I'm proud of my story "My Ferguson" that appears in this collection because 1) it's about a community I taught in for 17 years and 2) I get to thumb my nose (at the end of the story) at someone who made a very incorrect comment about Ferguson. (Secret Service: I'll be waiting for your arrival.)

      My writing critique friend Linda O'Connell also has a story in the same anthology.

       And now onto book blurb stuff. This one came so easy. I saw the photo and immediately knew what I was going to write about. It usually doesn't go that way. Usually I choose a picture that I have no inspiration about, so I can avoid working on my manuscript even longer stretch a little as a writer.

 Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your bookYou choose the genre. Is it a nonfiction piece? Is it a guide for nudists? You decide.

         Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book. 

          Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this writing challenge. She moved to Florida, and is too busy to host a weekly book blurb, so you're all stuck with me. What is she busy doing? Here's what I found when trolling around on the 'net...



   
According to an article I read on the internet, Lisa Ricard Claro is working on ghostwriting Viggo Mortensen's biography. (Whoops. Since you're ghostwriting it, Lisa, perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned your name?) Apparently Lisa has a pond in her backyard and while the two of them were working on this book, Viggo decided to cool off with a dip. What a lucky lady Lisa is.

Swoon. Oh. Okay, back to book blurb stuff.
       
Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Here's the book cover, along with my blurb:





Mrs. T  Didn’t Pity the Fools


She was tired of it. Fed up. Finally, after 27 years of putting up with it, she decided, ‘Enough is enough.’
Surfing the internet, Mrs. T came up with a plan… and the next day she executed it.
“Mrs. T, my mom wants you to call her. Today. She wants to know why I’m getting a D in language arts. She’s really ticked off at you.”
‘Your mother wants to know why you’re not honor roll material? I want to know why you refuse to put a single word down on paper, day after day…’
Without saying a word, Mrs. T walked over to Brittney, her hand striking fast as a snake, a silver flash hinting at the horror that was happening.
It took a week, and more than thirty students, but finally word got around: Mrs. T loves statement jewelry pieces… (142 words)



What kind of writing success do you want to toot your horn about? And for those who are thinking about playing along, here is the photo for next week:





14 comments:

  1. I love when a teacher gets revenge!! I think as word gets around, either students will start working harder or at least quit complaining about their grade if they deserve it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat--I think EVERY teacher appreciates a "teacher gets revenge" story.

      Delete
  2. Congrats on your new CS publication, Sioux! Looking forward to connecting again at some signings.

    The hunky guy you posted belongs on the cover of a romance novel, and the talented Lisa is just the person to put him there.

    My most recent "success" is finding a new CS contract in my inbox this morning. Of course, as we all know, that's only the first hurdle, so I'm keeping fingers crossed. :-)

    Pat
    www.patwahler.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat--I will keep my fingers crossed. Congratulations on making it over the first hurdle.

      After reading your comment, I rushed to check MY email. Alas, no letter from D'ette. :(

      Delete
  3. I hope the birth certificate answers all your questions! My half-sister has never seen hers. We share a mother, but my dad adopted her when he married my mom. It was all a big secret until we were in our 40's.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy--Maybe your sister can get her original birth certificate... but maybe she's not interested?

      Delete
  4. That is so cool you will have access to your birth certificate. As soon as I saw the wet wild dude, I thought he was a character in Lisa's next book. A little concerned about Mrs. T. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda--That wet wild dude is Viggo Mortensen. Didn't you recognize him?

      Yeah, Mrs. T is off the chain...

      Delete
  5. Congrats on your Souper success, and on your upcoming certificate acquisition!

    You go, Mrs. T! Time to stop the inmates from running the asylum, and let the crazy teachers take over, as it should be. I can say that, now that I'm retired.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Val--Yes, all teachers (I think) like to read stories where teachers can say what's really on their mind and do what they're tempted to do... but can't.

      Thanks, and thanks.

      Delete
  6. Congratulations on the story, Sioux! I'll be looking for it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The birth certificate! So cool! I'm happy for you that you're able to have access to that.

    Boy, thanks for the nice fantasy about VM. Most people only dream up that stuff for themselves, but you really spread the wealth. I need to scroll up and drool over...um, I mean, look at that photo of him again. God was certainly in a good mood that day, wasn't he? lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa--Don't bother. I've already drooled all over it.

      Delete

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by...